‘He Tried to Throw Me Down the Stairs’: NYC Subway Attack Victim Shares Chilling Encounter with Alleged Killer of Retired Teacher
- A 23-year-old woman has spoken out about her terrifying encounter with Rhamell Burke, the man accused of fatally shoving a 76-year-old retired teacher down a flight of stairs in a New York City subway station.
- The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, revealed that Burke allegedly attacked her and her friend on a subway train just hours before the fatal incident.
- She described how Burke attempted to start a conversation, before becoming aggressive and physically assaulting the pair.
- Despite the traumatic experience, the woman and her friend chose not to cooperate with prosecutors, a decision she now regrets.
It was supposed to be a routine subway ride for a 23-year-old woman and her friend, but it quickly turned into a nightmare when they crossed paths with Rhamell Burke, the man accused of murdering a 76-year-old retired teacher in a shocking act of violence.
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, has spoken out about the chilling encounter, revealing how Burke allegedly attacked her and her friend just hours before the fatal incident.
According to the woman, the encounter began when Burke approached her and her friend on the subway train on April 2. He attempted to start a conversation, but the pair quickly shut him down and switched cars to get away from him.
However, Burke allegedly stalked them, following them into the next car and becoming increasingly aggressive.
“He comes up and he kicks my friend in the back, and basically pushes him through the transition of the cars,” the woman recalled.
“My friend freaks out, runs away, and then he grabs me by the head and pushes my head down, trying to like maybe throw me on the ground or something.”
The woman managed to resist Burke’s attack and escape, but the experience left her and her friend shaken. “We get off at West 4th Street and then we turn around and we see he’s following us,” she said.
“That’s when I was like: ‘Oh, like, this is scary.
Like, why is he following us?’ We started running a little bit, but then thank God the cops were right there because, I mean, we kept thinking about, imagine that there were no cops, we would have had to literally run for our lives.”
Just hours after the alleged attack, Burke was involved in another incident that would ultimately prove fatal. Surveillance video captured him pursuing 76-year-old Ross Falzone, a retired teacher, at a Chelsea subway station.
Burke allegedly shoved Falzone down the stairs, causing head injuries and a fractured spine. Falzone was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
Burke’s release from the psychiatric emergency room just hours before the fatal incident has raised questions about the hospital’s handling of his case. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered an investigation into the hospital’s protocols, saying “New Yorkers deserve answers.”
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
While the incident occurred in New York City, it highlights the importance of robust mental health support systems and law enforcement protocols in preventing violent crimes.
In Australia, there have been numerous cases of individuals with mental health issues committing violent crimes, raising concerns about the adequacy of our own systems.
Security analysts say that the incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for increased investment in mental health services and more effective collaboration between law enforcement and healthcare providers.
Law enforcement insiders warn that the incident also highlights the risks of releasing individuals with a history of erratic behavior back into the community without adequate support.
“This case is a tragic example of what can happen when we fail to provide adequate support to individuals with mental health issues,” said one expert.
“It’s a wake-up call for us to review our protocols and ensure that we’re doing everything we can to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.”
